title: Isoelectric focusing herpes simplex virus-gB overlay study in brainstem encephalitis.
abstract: We report a case of herpetic brainstem encephalitis (HBE) retrospectively diagnosed in adult patient. Conventional immunovirological studies failed to disclose the etiology of this patient's affection. An isoelectric focusing-antigen overlay (IEF-O) technique showed that the target of one of the four cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands was herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 glycoprotein B, indicating a specific anti-HSV immunoresponse restricted to the CNS. IEF-O may represent a useful support for in vivo diagnosis of HBE.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic IV, Milan University, IRCCS H. San Raffaele, Italy.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Franciotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brustia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minali
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Melzi d'Eril
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus